One of the more well known essential oil techniques is the Raindrop. It was created by Dr. Gary Young, the founder of Young Living Essential Oils. In the training courses I took for the technique, the teachers explained he created the process to help correct spine curvature, such as for people who deal with scoliosis. I can not say whether there has been enough research to prove significant improvement of scoliosis, however I can say that I've seen with my eyes, time and time again, there is always lengthening of the spine after a Raindrop. In training, we learned to first measure the client. Usually this meant taping a piece of paper against a wall with a cereal box on top of their head, which helped us draw a straight line recording their height). We then preformed the technique, starting with a balancing blend oil at the feet and shoulders, followed with seven other oils flexed into the spine of the feet. The eight oils all served a purpose. Most of the oils are the more common names, Oregano, Thyme, Basil, Marjoram, Wintergreen, Cypress, and Peppermint. To give a quick recap of the health benefits of the oils, Oregano is the strongest oil I am aware of for antibacterial. Thyme is the same but for antiviral, (so clean up the cells first with unwantedness). Basil is great for our moving external muscles while Marjoram is more geared to internal muscle health. Wintergreen is my go to for bones, Cypress is wonderful for circulation, and Peppermint helps drive in all of the other oils to really penetrate through the skin cells. With Peppermint at the end, the oil helps the body absorb all of the health benefits. Lets face it, with these strong smelling oils, this goes past aromatherapy and is all about maintaining a healthier body.
Once the oils are applied to the feet, they are then dropped on the spine, like needed raindrops on the earth. The oils are applied in the same order, using only 3 to 4 drops a crossed the back. It's best if a carrier oil is first applied for Oregano and Thyme which can penetrate through the skin so quickly that the friction creates a heating sensation. There is a gentle feathering technique up the spine using your fingertips, which not only moves the oils up the back, it also provides a wonderful relaxation technique. There is some slight manipulation of the tissues to work the oils into the back more, and the ending is a warm compress. When the client has finished, they go back up against and the wall, and wallah! They've just added nearly 1/2 an inch to their height! The increase is always noticeable and I have seen it at as much as 1/2 an inch; all with a 45 minute oil session. Unfortunately I can not say how long this increase lasts before gravity pushes us down again, however the outcome is fascinating nonetheless.
I took the classes for Raindrop a couple years before I got into Massage Therapy. I am sure that this technique lead the way to introducing me to massage, as well as a broader understanding of just how powerful and effective the oils can be for anyone. In the classes there are examples after examples of people who experienced Raindrops for the first time and had life changing experiences with it. Experiences all the way from chronic back pain that disappeared over night, to common cold symptoms being stopped in their tracks without going into full onset. The thing I like most about the Raindrop technique, other than the health benefits and that it's an enjoyable technique to provide, is that as I offer the client a bottle of water afterwards, I find myself needing just as much water as they do. This is because, from an aromatherapy perspective, the oils are working on the practitioner at the same time they are performing the technique with their client. The teachers I learned from explained that the session is just as therapeutic for the practitioner, and there have even been cases when a client for whatever reason did not have the oils placed on their skin, however the technique was preformed with open bottles in the same fashion, aromatherapy only, and they still experienced benefits from that session.
I am very thankful I learned this technique, and even more grateful Dr. Gary Young created it. The story goes that he had help from Native North Americans, and the feathering up the spine used to be performed with just that, a feather up the spine! Certain tribes used different healing techniques performed with flowing a feather up the spine, as an energetic type of movement.
For any readers in the Houston, Texas area that would like to experience a Raindrop Technique, please click on my Services link in the website and you will see an option to schedule a Raindrop session. If you would like full instruction on the technique, or have any questions about it, feel free to e-mail me at aleighthealth@gmail.com
Enjoy!
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